The Senate Committee on Local Government has approved on 2nd reading House Bill 2509/4736 or the Mabalacat cityhood bill on January 31.

“Its one step closer to cityhood,” said a jubilant Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, who expressed gratitude to Senators Lito Lapid, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Tito Sotto, Franklin Drilon, Jinggoy Estrada and Rep. Carmelo Lazatin who sponsored the Mabalacat cityhood bill.

Morales had already embarked in a beautification plan for Mabalacat town which is expected to become a full-pledged city by 2013 which coincides with the 300th founding year of the town.

 “After 300 years, Mabalacat will be a component city complete with an international airport, freeport zone and modern expressways,” according to Morales.

The upcoming cityhood of Mabalacat comes in the wake of a P500-million stimulus plan to develop major infrastructure in the soon to be Mabalacat City.

Among these are the new Mabalacat Public Market, Triple A slaughterhouse, lighting of major roadways, construction of additional classrooms in Mabalacat Community College and the proposed 168 retail building in Barangay Mabiga.

“Mabalacat will become the center of trade in Pampanga, because it will play a major role in the development of the Clark International Airport. Soon, more hotels will be built in Mabalacat to accommodate the influx of tourists,” said Morales.

Earlier, Mabalacat residents have expressed their gratitude to the political luminaries who worked out for the realization of the much-vaunted cityhood bill or House Bill 2509/4736 saying that this was a “dream come true.”

It is expected that a referendum in Mabalacat town will vote for the passage of the cityhood bill, which is greatly anticipated by residents.

“It is a dream come true,” according to Mabalacat Water District Chairman Deng Pangilinan.

“For the last 10 years, we had been trying to achieve cityhood status amid the current developments in the town and the Clark Freeport Zone. We are the only town in Pampanga with an international airport and a Freeport zone,” said Pangilinan.

“Like what our Mayor Marino Morales had been saying in the past, Mabalacat will be the ‘Next Makati North of Manila’ and change is definitely coming our way in Mabalacat,” said Pangilinan.

Under cityhood, Morales sees further improvement in the delivery of basic services to the people. “We will see further improvement in the programs of the local government on education, health, livelihood, employment, peace and order, etc”.

Mabalacat stands to earn P800 million in 2012 once it become a component city. For 2011, the town is expected to earn P500 million.

On February 7 the Senate Committee on Local Government will deliberate the 3rd and final reading on the cityhood bill.